Below is the text of the Fact Sheet issued by the Co-Chairs (Turkey and the United States) of the Global Counterterrorism Forum for the December 14, 2012, GCTF Ministerial-Level Plenary in Abu Dhabi.

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The GCTF aims to help countries around the world enhance their capacities -- and especially those of their civilian institutions -- to meet the terrorist threats within their borders and regions and to strengthen global efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations. The 14 December 2012 GCTF Ministerial Plenary will include the announcement by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the official launch of the International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism in Abu Dhabi as well as a number of new initiatives in the GCTF areas of strategic priority, thus illustrating anew the Forum’s action-oriented approach to addressing 21st century terrorism.

I. Official Launch of the International Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism
At the September 2011 ministerial-level launch of the GCTF in New York, the UAE offered to host this center in response to the growing desire from GCTF members and the wider international community for the establishment of an independent, multilateral center devoted to training, dialogue, collaboration, and research to counter violent extremism in all of its forms and manifestations, one that can bring together the experts, expertise, and experience of countries around the globe.

This initiative could not be more timely. There is widespread agreement on the need to prevent individuals from starting down the path toward radicalization and then the embrace of violence, and for more effective means to divert those already on that path before they are fully committed and mobilized. With the opening of the Center there will now be an international institution dedicated to addressing this challenge. For more information on the Center please see the attached Center fact sheet.

II. Adoption of New GCTF Framework Documents
The Algiers Memorandum on Preventing and Denying Benefits of Kidnapping for Ransom by Terrorists, will be the third set of good practices developed by the relevant experts from GCTF members. The text was elaborated at an April 2012 GCTF experts’ meeting in Algiers and has been refined over the past few months. The document identifies a number of practical, law enforcement, criminal justice, and other tools for all countries to consider using to prevent and respond to kidnappings by terrorists – tools which provide states with additional options for effectively addressing KFR situations. As with the existing GCTF good practices documents (on the criminal justice sector and prison rehabilitation and reintegration), GCTF members will commit themselves to mobilize the resources and expertise to carry out training and other capacity-building programs to advance the implementation of these good practices. The GCTF Plan of Action on Victims of Terrorism was developed at the July 9-10 GCTF High-Level Conference on Victims of Terrorism, where GCTF members as well as victims and victims’ associations from around the world unveiled well-defined initiatives in support of victims of terrorism, which could be led and/or financed by GCTF members and other interested stakeholders. The plan addresses a range of issues such as a) providing media awareness training to victims to help them more effectively put forward counter-messages to those of violent extremists; b) supporting the development of and exchanges among victims’ organizations; and c) providing training for law enforcement, first responders, and reporters on protecting the rights of victims.

III. Announcement of Capacity-Building Projects Advancing GCTF Strategic Priorities
GCTF members will announce capacity-building projects, both bilateral and multilateral, to support the implementation of GCTF framework documents and, more broadly, GCTF strategic priorities. These initiatives will build on the roughly $175 million in capacity-building programs announced at the GCTF’s two previous ministerial meetings. More information on them will be released following the 14 December ministerial.